Oksana walked out of the gynecologist’s office with legs like lead. Eight weeks pregnant. She certainly hadn’t expected to hear that from the doctor.
She had attributed her body’s malfunctions to fatigue, a lack of vitamins, and age-related changes—but certainly not pregnancy.
She had given birth to her son Ilya at 26, a year after her wedding. A few years later, she had wanted another child, preferably a girl… but it hadn’t happened. Pregnancy didn’t occur, even though both she and her husband were perfectly healthy.
And now, at 43, the news had fallen on her like a ton of snow. Oksana walked home slowly, thinking about how she would tell her husband and son… She wondered how they would react. Was it too late for her to have a child? After all, she wasn’t young anymore—some people already had grandchildren at her age. Her phone rang—it was her mother.
“Hello, daughter, where are you? Can you stop by? Your father’s blood pressure has been high all day—maybe it’s the weather…”
“Yes, Mom, I’ll be right there. I have some news… I don’t even know how to say it.”
“Come in, dear. What’s this news? I hope everything’s okay?”
“I just saw the gynecologist. I’m pregnant—two months along already.”
“Oh, my goodness, daughter… how… at your age? Ilya is already a grown man; you’d expect grandchildren by now. And what will you do? What did Andrey say?”
“No one knows yet, I just got it from the doctor.”
“It’s okay, daughter, give birth. My mother had seven children, and she raised them all… Wife, set the table—we’ll celebrate! Look, if it’s a granddaughter, we’ll still have time to enjoy her.”
“You’ve gone mad, old man! Celebrate? Look at your blood pressure! Oksanka, think carefully. Do you really need this, with the times being what they are? One child is plenty. And think about it—when you’re sixty, the child will be seventeen… where’s that going?”
“Mom, Andrey and I will figure it out.”
At dinner, Oksana shared her news with her husband and son. Ilya looked at his mother, bewildered.
“You’re pregnant? At your age? You’re too old! Are you seriously going to have a baby?”
“Son, I’m not that old; I can carry and give birth to a child. Don’t you want a brother or sister?”
“Why do you need another child? Isn’t Ilya enough? Aren’t there enough problems already? Who comes up with having a baby in old age…”
Ilya jumped up from the table and went to his room, slamming the door. Oksana looked at her husband, upset.
“Andrey, why are you silent? Are you happy you’re going to be a father again?”
“Me? It’s so unexpected, I don’t know… Really, aren’t we too old for a baby? I’ve always wanted another child, you know that, but now… You’re not young, it will be difficult to give birth and take care of a newborn. I worry about you.”
“Oh, I’ll give the young ones a run for their money! Look, Ilya is finishing school and will leave for university, and we’d be alone… But this way, we’ll become parents again; life will have new meaning.”
“And money isn’t an issue—thank God, we earn well, and your firm is thriving.”
Just then, Ilya came out of his room.
“So what, my studies, the apartment you wanted to buy me—it’s all ruined? You’ll have another child, and there won’t be time for me…”
“Ilya, what are you saying? Of course, everything is still planned. We’ve already set aside money for your studies and the apartment, don’t worry.”
“Oh, by the way, Mom, you’ll get maternity capital, and it could be used for my education… Well, in principle, it’s not so bad that you’re having a baby.”
“I’d almost forgotten about that capital… I’m more worried about my age. They consider me an older mother; I’m at risk…”
“It’s okay, dear, you’ll manage. Son, imagine—you’ll be a big brother…”
“No, I can’t imagine… I don’t need any more children in our family, but if you really want this, have the baby and raise it. But I’ll say this straight away: I won’t love this child. Babies aren’t for me—I’m afraid to hold them, they cry, or they soil themselves… ugh.”
Oksana was upset by her son’s attitude toward the situation. She understood that he was probably feeling some jealousy, but his negativity bothered her deeply.
Her mother-in-law reacted even more harshly.
“Have you gone completely mad? Children, Oksana? You’re nearly fifty, it’s time to think about retirement, not babies! And Andrey isn’t a boy anymore, even if he’s a year younger than you… Isn’t Ilyushka enough for you? We’re old now; we can’t help, we can’t even sit with the child… If I were in your place, I’d have an abortion and that’s it!”
“Well, that’s our decision. We’re not asking for help; we just wanted to put you in the picture.”
Oksana locked herself in her room and burst into tears. For her, the pregnancy itself was already a shock, and now her relatives were reacting this way… Andrey hadn’t shown any joy either. Ilya had firmly stated that he would not love the child. What was she to do? How could she cope with all of this?
Oksana called a friend and told her the news.
“No way… Are you sure it’s not just menopause? And you’re really going to have the baby? I wouldn’t dare… What if it’s a child with Down syndrome? What then? I know someone who had a sick child, and now they’re struggling…”
Seeing such reactions, Oksana decided not to tell anyone else. Whatever would happen, would happen. She would not terminate the pregnancy.
The pregnancy progressed smoothly—Oksana herself was surprised. All tests and screenings were normal. Ilya continued to keep his distance from his mother. Before his graduation from school, he said:
“Mom, please don’t come to the graduation. I’m embarrassed in front of everyone that my mom has a belly… Let Dad come alone. I’ll say you’re sick.”
“Ilya, what are you saying? I’ve dreamed of attending this graduation. You’re my beloved son—I want to see everything. How can you be embarrassed of your mother?”
“Well, I’m still your beloved son for now, but soon you’ll have someone else to love… The kids will laugh at me because my mother is having a child at her age.”
Oksana felt deeply hurt listening to this. They had spent their whole lives doing everything for their son, and now this was the result—selfishness.
Still, she went to the graduation despite her son’s request. He didn’t come near her once, pretending she wasn’t there.
A few weeks before the birth, Oksana fell ill and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors said she would need to stay under observation until delivery. Slightly earlier than expected, Oksana gave birth to a daughter, Mashenka—a healthy, calm little girl.
Everyone called to congratulate them—except her son, who was studying in another city and came home rarely.
When Masha turned one month old, Ilya came home. Oksana worried about how he would react to his little sister.
“Son, meet your little sister, Mashenka.”
“Uh-huh, I know her name… I’ll eat now and then go see my friend.”
“Alright, I’ll go to the kitchen and set the table.”
A few minutes later, she went to the room to call her son. He was awkwardly holding his sister, wrapped tightly like a little soldier in a blanket.
“She started fussing and whimpering, so I picked her up.”
“That’s fine, son. Aren’t you afraid to hold her?”
“Mom, she’s so tiny… and funny… Look at her wrinkling her nose… Oh, she smiled at me, look!”
Oksana watched her son in amazement, barely recognizing him. He was smiling at his little sister—and she smiled back at him.
“Mom, can I watch you bathe her tonight? She’s like a little doll, and I think she even looks a bit like me… I was such a fool for not wanting her.”
“Of course, son, you can help me.”
Mashenka became everyone’s little favorite. Grandparents were overjoyed to help care for her. And no one remembered the doubts they had once expressed about Oksana having a child at her age. Ilya was the happiest of all to have “another child.”
